Say the Leeds and you're smiling

Less than 12 months ago Leeds United were the equivalent of footballing lepers, facing the start of their first ever League One campaign 15 points adrift at the bottom of the table, and seemingly without a friend in the world.

But how times change, with the 3/1 clear favourites to gain promotion this time around now being a very attractive proposition for players looking for a fresh challenge this summer.

Andy Hughes was one of the few who looked at United's predicament and was excited by the battle that lay ahead, signing for the club after the mammoth 15 point penalty had been incurred. The tenacious midfielder fought in the trenches to help drag the Whites out of the mire, but believes starting on a level playing field this season is a huge 'advantage'.

'There weren't that many players last summer that actually wanted to come to Leeds,' said the 30-year-old. 'They didn't fancy the big points deduction, but now everyone wants to come. I've spoken to loads of players and other people in the game and it's a different story this time around. There's no debt, the fans are right behind the players and the manager. It's one of the best clubs to play for, no doubt about that.'

McAllister planning for the future

He may only have been at the club less than five months, but Leeds United boss Gary McAllister has already shown he is a firm believer in the old adage 'if they're good enough they're old enough.'

From the very beginning of his reign the ex-Scotland international was happy to put his faith in several of the clubs promising youngsters, throwing Jonny Howson, Bradley Johnson, and the on-loan Alan Sheehan into the fray.

His strategy paid handsome dividends, as the team recovered from a major dip in form which coincided with the end of Dennis Wise's tenure, to storm into the end of season play-offs. McAllister is clearly playing the 'long game' with United, making decisions for the present whilst having one eye fixed firmly on the future.

His approach was re-inforced today with the news that the Whites have invited Liverpool starlets Krisztian Nemeth and Astrit Ajdarevic to join up with the club for pre-season training with a view to signing both players on loan for the new League One season.

Nemeth, a 19-year-old Hungarian striker, is already gaining recognition after being called up to his country's international squad last month. Ajdarevic, an 18-year-old left-sided midfielder, was born in Kosovo, but holds Swedish citizenship, and represented the Swedes in the recent UEFA European Under-17 Championship.

The Leeds boss is sure to have the inside-track on both players, making use of his connections at the Anfield club where he spent two extremely successful years later in his playing career. The progress of both players will be followed with keen interest once the squad begin pre-season training on July 4th.

Leeds clinch most important signing

Leeds United today made what could turn out to be the most important signing of the summer, as local lad Jonny Howson penned a new improved three year deal. The 20-year-old was delighted to pledge his future the the club after playing a leading role in last season's surge to the play-off final.

'I'm very happy,' beamed Howson. 'I wanted to sign when it was right for me and the club - which it is - and it's been done. It's nice, but there's other players around who help you and I'd like to thank them for that. I remember when I signed my last contract I wasn't playing regularly, but since Gary came in I've played a lot more. I knew I was capable of doing a good job.'

Far from resting on his laurels, the youngster from Morley already has his sights set on playing a major part in the Whites promotion assault next season. 'Everyone's looking upwards at the club,' he added. 'I think we've got to get promoted and back to where we should be. I know we have gone on about points but if it hadn't been for that deduction last season we would have gone up. That's gone now though. It's a new season and I'm sure everyone will come back thinking about promotion. Everyone believes we are going somewhere.'

Quality the key for McAllister

Leeds United manager Gary McAllister is prepared to take the patient approach in his bid to add the right quality to his squad in preparation for next season's League One promotion assault.

Speaking on the day he attended a transfer summit with chairman Ken Bates and technical director Gwyn Williams, the canny Scot spoke of his refusal to enter panic-buying mode.

Having been heavily linked with Kevin Phillips, Andrew Cole and Derek Riordan, McAllister has since confirmed his interest in all three. 'That is the calibre of player we are looking to bring in,' he confirmed. 'There's a wee bit behind all of those guys. The common denominator is the quality. Much as we'd like to get some business done quickly it's not imperative.'

Chairman Ken Bates seems as eager as the supporters to build on the substantial progress made by the club last season. 'I can't wait for things to start again,' he enthused. 'After last season when we ran away with the runners-up position, lets hope we end up as champions this time. I know the players certainly can't wait to come back in and get started again.'

Council of War to signal move for Riordan?

The Leeds United Trinity of chairman Ken Bates, manager Gary McAllister and technical director Gwyn Williams will all be present as the club hold a Council of War next Tuesday to hammer out a definitive list of preferred Summer transfer targets.

Gary McAllister has made no secret of his search for another 20 goals-a-season striker, with several prominent names being speculated on by the media. It seems Leeds fans are clear on which option the United boss should pursue. Celtic's Derek Riordan polled 63% of the total votes in a GloryGloryLeedsUnited.com survey of the leading contenders.

The 25 year old former Hibernian star's career has stalled with the Hoops, and the 2005 Scottish Young Player of the year is frustrated with his current lack of first-team opportunities, saying recently: 'I've virtually chucked it at Celtic, what's the point when I'm not getting a chance.' The only obstacle to a potential move by Leeds would seem to be the transfer fee, with the club unwilling to meet Celtic's one million pound valuation of the player.

Which striker will fire Leeds to glory next season?

Speculation has been rife for the past few weeks over who Leeds United manager Gary McAllister will bring to the club during the summer to bolster the clubs League One title challenge.

Kevin Phillips is a proven goalscorer and has attracted most of the attention recently. The 34 year old ex-England international holds the Sunderland record for most post-war goals and won the coveted European Golden Boot award in 2000.

Andy Cole, the veteran ex-Manchester United striker, has also represented England. He is ranked second only to Alan Shearer in the all-time Premiership goalscoring charts having struck 185 times. The 36 year old has won five Premiership titles in addition to the Champions League.

Derek Riordan, currently with Glasgow Celtic, is by far the younger option at the age of 25. The striker hit 54 goals in 123 appearances whilst at his first club Hibernian, and made his full Scotland debut in 2005. It is believed it would take a fee of around one million pounds to secure his services.

So which option is the right choice to form a deadly strikeforce with Jermaine Beckford next season? Give your opinion in the GloryGloryLeedsUnited.com poll.

'Doing a Leeds' now a matter of pride, not prejudice

The seven year period since Leeds United appeared in the Champions League semi-final against Valencia is notorious throughout football.

The disastrous downward spiral which saw the club plumb new depth after new depth, hemorrhaging money in an unprecedented financial meltdown, saw a new phrase emerge in the language of football. 'Doing a Leeds' was about as negative as things could get for a football club. The whole footballing community looked on as events unfolded thinking 'thank goodness that's not our club.'

However, the season of 2007/08 will go down in history as the year that Leeds United fought back, and began the rise of the phoenix from the flames. Beginning their first ever season in the third tier of English football was only half the story, the Football League and it's members decreed that the club should begin the campaign on minus fifteen points, with one foot firmly in League Two.

A remarkable show of strength of character, both on the pitch and amongst the thousands of die-hard supporters off it, saw the Whites rampage through the season. Despite seeing Gus Poyet and Dennis Wise jump ship, an inspired appointment of Leeds legend Gary McAllister as manager saw the club gatecrash the end of season play-offs. The first team in history to avoid relegation after incurring a 10+ point deduction came within a whisker of promotion, but alas it was not meant to be.

So it is little wonder that the term 'doing a Leeds' is no longer banded about in a derogatory fashion. Luton manager Mick Harford, his own team facing a further fifteen point handicap at the start of next season, is looking at United as a source of inspiration. 'Leeds were a credit last season, they did fantastically well and were unfortunate not to get promotion and that's the mark we'll have to start with next season and they'll be an example to everyone,' proclaimed Harford.

Many rival 'fans' up and down the country believed that 'doing a Leeds' would lead to the end of our great club. It very nearly did, but now the very same term signifies a club coming back from the dead. Leeds United are very much alive and kicking, and the clubs supporters cannot wait for next season's battle to commence.

Leeds fans eye Westwood and Maynard

Carlisle United goalkeeper Keiren Westwood certainly made an impression on the supporters of Leeds United during the clubs epic play-off semi-final matches. The 23 year old was outstanding in both ties, and features highly in a poll of potential Summer signings that fans would like to see arrive at Elland Road.

Westwood has been the Cumbrian's number one for the past three seasons and his recent progress has seen him gain international recognition, being called into the Republic of Ireland squad by boss Giovanni Trapattoni on the strength of his play-off heroics against the Whites.

The quick, agile keeper was named in the League One team of the season, and with only 12 months left on his current contract, is sure to attract a lot of interest during the transfer window.

Also attracting big support in the poll of potential new recruits is Crewe Alexandra's young striker Nicky Maynard. The 21 year old has hit 32 goals in just 59 appearances for the Railwaymen, and is another player that will not doubt appear on the radar of Leeds boss Gary McAllister.